From sketch to showground: Hospice UK at RHS Chelsea Flower Show

We were absolutely delighted that the Garden of Compassion was awarded a prestigious Silver Gilt medal by the RHS judges. It was a true credit to designer Tom Hobyln, whose vision of a mediterranean landscape brought this meaningful space to life.

The recognition was made all the more special knowing it marked Tom’s final show garden at Chelsea, and what a privilege it was for Hospice UK to be part of his farewell.
 

The Garden of Compassion sparked powerful conversations in the press, with national and regional media helping us shine a light on the importance of hospice care.

We were proud to see the garden and its message featured in the BBC coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and also in a wide range of other media channels, including this piece from The Telegraph and this piece from The English Garden.

Thanks to the widespread coverage, our message reached far beyond the showground, into homes, communities and hearts across the UK.
 

Two patients from St Christopher’s Hospice were able to tick off a lifelong dream by joining us at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. As part of a recent art project with St Christopher's ambassador, Tom Allen, Sam Lucas and Emma Pancha helped paint the Together Pebbles that adorned The Garden of Compassion.

Unbeknownst to them, just two weeks later their dreams would come true as they would be personally placing their pebbles in the Hospice UK Garden of Compassion on ‘preview day’ of RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Sam, 54, said going to Chelsea was on her bucket list and decorated her wheelchair especially for the occasion.

When told she would be attending, she said: “Oh my god, you’ve made my life.”

Read the full story from St Christopher’s Hospice.
 

We were honoured to welcome several special guests to the Garden of Compassion during show week. 

We were especially proud to host Their Majesties The King and Queen, as well as football royalty David Beckham. Other well-known faces who stopped by included Nick Grimshaw, Gloria Hunniford, Tom Allen, Alan Titchmarsh and Jo Brand (just to name a few!).

Their visits helped shine a light on the importance of hospice care and the role hospice gardens play in that experience.

Watch their reaction to the Garden of Compassion.

This entire journey wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our garden sponsor, Project Giving Back, who fully funded the garden as part of their mission to boost UK-based good causes at the high-profile RHS Chelsea Flower Show, as well as supporting the relocation of the gardens to permanent homes after the show where they can continue to benefit the charities and their communities.

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said of Project Giving Back's support for the Hospice UK Garden of Compassion: 

“Gardens play such a vital role in our health and wellbeing, throughout our lives. Anyone who has benefitted from a hospice garden will know the immense, restorative power of nature for people who are approaching the end of life – and their loved ones, too.

“Above all else, hospice gardens are about people and compassion. Tom’s design captures that so beautifully. It’s a space that’s about letting people focus on living, right until the end.

“We are so grateful to Project Giving Back for this transformational opportunity. And we are so pleased, on behalf of the UK’s 200+ hospices - and indeed the many thousands of volunteer hospice gardeners - to bring the Hospice UK Garden of Compassion to RHS Chelsea in May.”
 

We’re thrilled that the Garden of Compassion will soon begin a new chapter at St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham.

This move will enable the garden’s legacy to live on, continuing to offer a quiet place of reflection to those who need it most.

Martin, Lead Volunteer Gardener at St Cuthbert’s Hospice, is gearing up for the garden’s arrival: “I'd say that all hospice gardens are gardens of compassion and we're really excited about getting Hospice UK's Garden of Compassion after the Chelsea Flower Show this summer. 

“Lots of hard work for us volunteer gardeners of course but we don't mind that - it's going to look amazing.”